A veterans' health care network that serves Nebraska and western Iowa is planning to expand its mental-health services.

The Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System is planning to add more staff in Lincoln, Omaha and other locations.

The 10 percent increase in staff comes as the Veterans Administration prepares to deal with more cases of post-traumatic stress disorder and other problems. The region's health care system currently has 106 employees.

Chief psychologist Todd Fleischer says officials have not yet decided where all the new hires will be based. But he says the request for mental-health providers is being fast-tracked. The hiring move will add 1,600 people nationwide.